Binder or holding device



(No Model.) I

W. GLOUGH.

BINDER OR HOLDING DEVICE.

No. 276,001. Patented Apr. 17,1883.

' VV'ITNIEEEE Imvm1-u1= ww w UNITED STATES ATENT amen.

ROCKWELL OLOUGH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

BINDER OR HOLDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,001, dated April I7, 1883.

A pplicntion iilcdJuue24,1882. (No model.) I

' adapted for use in holding various articlessuch, for instance, as bills, checks, 850., in a bank, papers in an office, and in stores packages of gloves, braid, ribbons, and analogous articles.

The nature and construction ofmy invention will be understood from the detailed descrip- -tion hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view of the preferred embodimentof my invention. Figs. 2, 3, and 1 are views of the invention, the parts thereof being given a form, differentin some respects from that shown in Fig. 1, but possessing similar functions and-being similar in all essential respects to the same.

The device illustrated in Fig.1 is made from a single pieceofwire (lettered A,) bent to form the double-D-shaped frame consisting of the parts a b, the part a being larger than the part brand on about the same horizontal plane with it. The parts a b are formed by bending the ends of the wire from their respective corners of the flat side 0 to the opposite corner, one end of the wire being brought around in a larger circle than the other, as shown.

The clamps.v shown in Figs. 2 and 3 differ from that illustrated in Fig. 1, in that in Fig. 2 the outer frame, a, is made rectangularinstead of circular, and in Fig. 3 the inner frame is made rectangular instead of circular.

The clamp shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. '1,with the exception that it has at the central part of the inner circular frame, I), the thumb-piece d,which is intended to assist in adjusting the clamp over the article to be held.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7, and S I show my new clamp or holding device in slightly-modified forms, but all embodying the same general principles. In Figs. 5 and 6 the clamps are provided with loops or eyes or, by which they may be hung I upon a peg, if desired. In the clamp shown in Fig. 7 the parts a b are of the same size and arranged one upon theothcr. In Fig. 8 the parts ab are circular in outline and project beyond each other, as indicated.

In practice the matter to be held is inserted between the parts or frames ab, and is held there by the spring in the wire. The capacity of the device is governed principally by the length of the flat side a, which, as the parts a b are separated, gradually assumes a diagonal position from one side to the'other of the matter held. This operation of the flat side opermits the parts a b to lie flat against the opposite sides of the matter held, and acts as a guard for one edge thereof, besides furnishing a tension which assists materially in holding the matter firmly.

I would call particular attention to the advantage of having one of the frames to 1) larger than the other. By this construction either side of the clamp may be used uppermost, and the device may be readily slid over thearticle to which it is to be applied.

The method of adjusting the device upon an article is to first lay the edge of the larger frame upon the edge of the article and then to press downward upon the smaller coil. This separates the frames, so that thedevicemay be slid upon the article with ease and readiness.

There is another advantage derived by the peculiar construction of the frames or coils I have set forth, and it is, that when the coils have been unduly spread apart and the spring fails to return them to their normal position the frames may be pressed toward and past each other, so as to counteract the effect of the spreading and restore to the clamp its spring action and its usefulness. In fact, the frames may be used interchangeably for top or bottom, and by this means the requisite tension is always obtainable.

In Fig. 1 the side surfaces of the parts a b are indented or corrugated, so as to present a frictional or gripping surface to the matter to be held. This will be found a very desirable construction for holding many classes of goods.

It is obvious that the wire ofwhich the clamp is formed may be given variouscontigurations, according to the taste of the manufacturer, without departing from the essence of the invention sought to be protected by this applica- Ice tion,as will be seen bythe modificationsshown in Figs. 2 to 8, already described. Other forms will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art, and need not be specifically mentioned herein.

It is obvious, also, that the clamp formed as described may be stamped out of sheet metal, if preferred, and that hard rubber, celluloid, or other material may be substituted for metal.

While I prefer to construct this device from a single piece of material, I do not confine myself to thatmode, as it is obvious that the parts described (a, b, and 0) may be madefrom separate pieces of any suitable material or materials and united in the same relation as herein described, and produce essentially the same effect; and, although the wire device herein described contributes the necessary clamping power from the natural spring and elasticity in its sides, itis obvious thatindependentsprings may, if desired, be provided and placed or attached at any point about the device where they may be needed to produce the required.

tensionas,for instance, a and b may behinged to the connecting part c and suitable springs 2 introduced at the hinged corners.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The clamp or holding device herein de- 0 scribed, consisting of the parts a b, one being projected beyond the other, and connected together by the part 0,substautially as setforth.

2. The clamp or holding device herein described, consisting of the frame formed in the 5 shape of a double D, composed of the parts a,

b, and c, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement iu binders or holding devices, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand 40 this 21st day of June, 1882.

W. ROCKW'ELL CLOUGH Witnesses Urms. O. GILL, HERMAN GUs'roW. 

